Door device, press provided with a door of this type and manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a door device, in particular for a press, the tank of which is provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture closed by said door.  
     Device characterised in that said door ( 4 ) principally consists of a structural casing ( 5 ) in the form of a metal plate provided with folded side edges ( 5 ′) and of a filling body, also in the form of a plate, mounted in the casing ( 5 ), said body being held in said casing ( 5 ) by the folded edges ( 5 ′) thereof, due to the arching effect experienced by the casing ( 5 )/body assembly and the resultant arched overlapping arrangement.

[0001] The present invention concerns the field of systems for sealing or closing passages of the type with an aperture for access or an orifice for supplying and emptying, in the form of a door leaf which can be moved in a translatory or pivotal manner.

[0002] It relates to a door device, in particular for a tank, maceration tank, press, and in particular for a pneumatic press, a press provided with a door device of this type and a method for manufacturing a door of a device of this type.

[0003] Numerous containers which are large and comprise an access aperture are provided with closing devices of the door type which are complex in structure, awkward to manufacture as they are assembled from numerous components and above all have a large total mass requiring the application of thrust and tensile forces of appropriate strength.

[0004] Doors of presses, in particular pneumatic membrane presses, intended to close the aperture for loading grapes or fruits and unloading pressing residues (marc in the case of grapes) currently have a complex conFigureuration as they incorporate, in particular, an inflatable joint, are produced by assembling a plurality of components, generally by means of bolts/nuts and have a considerable weight as they are formed from solid structural components, in particular to obtain a door with sufficient mechanical strength to resist the pressures being applied thereto during the pressing phases.

[0005] For convenience and owing to the intensity of thrust force to be provided, these press doors are currently displaced by pneumatic actuators which are supplied by the source of air under pressure which also supplies the press membrane.

[0006] However, pneumatic actuators of this type do not allow fine position adjustment of the door in the open state as is necessary when draining a tank supplied with fruits and grapes of variable types and maturity and/or having been subjected to different degrees of pressing (greater or lesser compaction and overlap of the pressed bunches of grapes, for example), to avoid clogging or blocking.

[0007] One possible solution for precisely controlling the positioning of the door could be to use electric actuating means.

[0008] With the current doors, however, it would be necessary to dispose high-power actuators, which are too cumbersome to be mounted near the aperture, of which the surroundings have to remain clear, and above all require a specific additional supply system, for example a three-phase system allowing the necessary power to be supplied. This would result in considerable extra cost and an increase in the risks connected with the operation of a press of this type.

[0009] Moreover, independently of the above-mentioned field of application, there is generally a constant demand for lighter doors which are easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0011] The invention accordingly relates to a door device, in particular for a tank, maceration tank, press, and in particular for a pneumatic membrane press, provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture, the door having a generally arched form substantially fitting the curve of the wall of the tank, characterised in that said door substantially consists of a structural casing in the form of a metal plate provided with folded lateral edges and of a filling body, also in the form of a plate, mounted in the casing, said body being held in said casing by the folded edges thereof, due to the arching effect experienced by the casing/body assembly and the resultant arched overlapping arrangement.

[0012] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description hereinafter which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples and described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective part view of a press tank provided with a door device according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the open state;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door device in FIG. 1, the view being in a different direction and to a different scale;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the door assembly in FIG. 2, in the closed state and to a different scale;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a sectional view along A-A of the door of the door device in FIG. 3, according to a variation of the invention;

[0017]FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of a door device according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the open and closed state respectively.

[0018] FIGS. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings show a door device 1, in particular for a pneumatic membrane press, the tank 2 of which is provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture, the door 4 having an arched general form substantially fitting the curve of the cylindrical or at least partially cylindrical wall of the tank 2.

[0019] According to the invention this device 1 is characterised in that the door 4 substantially consists of a structural casing 5 in the form of a metal plate provided with folded lateral edges 5′ and of a filling body 6, also in the form of a plate, mounted in the casing 5, said body 6 being held in said casing 5 by the folded edges 5′ thereof, due to the arching effect experienced by the casing 5/body 6 assembly and the resultant arched overlapping arrangement.

[0020] Benefitting from the lightening of the structure of the door 4 owing to the above-mentioned arrangements, it may advantageously be provided that said door 4 will be displaceable in a controlled manner between a position of total sealing and a position of total freeing of the aperture for loading and unloading 3 by means of an electric actuator controlled by the operator and/or by the control unit of the press.

[0021] In fact the extremely simple structure of the body of the door 4, in particular dispensing with connecting pieces, allows a generally limited weight to be achieved. Said door 4 can therefore be displaced by an electric actuator 7 which is small, has limited power and is supplied in parallel by the network already supplying the press, in particular the control unit (not shown in the press under consideration).

[0022] The folded edges 5′ may optionally be extended by folded end portions 5′ (see FIG. 4) holding the filling body 6 against the extended central part of the casing 5.

[0023] As can be seen from the accompanying drawings, the door 4 is displaced in a direction parallel to the generating line of the cylindrical wall of the tank 2 or to the longitudinal axis thereof.

[0024] To lighten the door 4 still further and for maximum reduction in the cost, while providing a solid structure and good sealing, the plate 6 forming the filling body may, for example, consist of a solid plate made of a polymeric and/or plastics material, which is rigid but deformable and comprises an inflatable joint 8 in the form of a loop or ring, mounted in a receiving groove 6′ provided in said plate 6 and intended to be tightly applied around the loading and unloading aperture 3, in the inflated state and in the sealing position of said door 4 (FIG. 4).

[0025] The body 6 may also be produced from a different material, in particular a metal material (for example aluminium) which can be subjected to at least limited arching without damage.

[0026] Moreover, the body 6 may also have, as a variant, a hollow structure, for example reinforced by ribs or internal walls.

[0027] Said body 6 should generally meet the following criteria: it should be relatively light, able to receive and hold the inflatable joint, be capable of being subjected to arching and be sufficiently strong to transmit without notable deformation the pressures applied to its internal face to the casing 5.

[0028] The structural casing 5 is in turn advantageously produced from sheet metal (preferably with anti-corrosion treatment) and has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, the folded edges 5′ of which form the wings.

[0029] To reinforce the rigidity of the door 4, in particular when it is large and subjected to high pressures, the casing 5 can be provided on its external face, remote from the filling body, with elongate hollow reinforcements 9, formed in or attached to this face of said casing 5.

[0030] According to an advantageous variation of the invention, shown in the Figureures of the accompanying drawings, the hollow reinforcing pieces 9 consist of U-shaped profiles attached to the external face of the casing 5 and fixed thereto, for example by welding, in a continuous manner in the region of the straight free edges 9″ of their wings 9′ or in a discontinuous manner in the region of prominent segments of the notched free edges 9″ of their wings 9′, said profiles 9 extending parallel to one another and transversely over the whole width of the door 4 in a direction parallel to that of the generating line of said casing 5.

[0031] Discontinuous fixing by U-shaped profiles 9 (for example by welding), allows the structure of the door 4 assembly to retain low deformability, to provide slot-shaped apertures for cleaning of the volumes delimited by said profiles 9 and to facilitate their connection (FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0032] Continuous fixing of the U-shaped profiles 9 allows further reinforcement of the structure of the door 4 and distribution of the stresses over a larger cross-section (FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0033] To further stiffen the door 4 in a direction perpendicular to that of the hollow reinforcing pieces 9 and to allow strong assembly thereof on the tank 2, the door may also be provided with two reinforcing elements 10, for example in the form of flat bars or elongate rigid metal strips, possibly having a camber substantially corresponding to that of the door 4, extending in respective spaced planes perpendicular to the generating line of the structural casing 5 of said door 4 and preferably being attached along the two opposing edges perpendicular to the folded side edges 5′ of said casing 5.

[0034] Although pivotal mounting of the door 4 is possible it is however preferred, in particular with respect to application to a press, that said door 4 consists of a sliding door, the motorised actuation of which is easier.

[0035] In particular, the electric actuator 7 advantageously consists of an electric jack, the front end of whose movable shank 7′ is integral with the structural casing 5. Said jack 7 is thus situated outside the surrounding region close to the aperture 3 and displacement of said door 4 does not cause banging or movement of similar spatial extent.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the door 4 comprises, close to one of its folded side edges 5′, at least two rings or eyelets (11) which slide on a guide rod or bar 12 which is integral with the tank 2 and, in the region of its opposing folded side edge 5′, a rod or bar 13 which slides in at least one ring or at least one guide eyelet 14 integral with the tank 2.

[0037] The absence of a rod for longitudinal guidance fixed on one side of the aperture 3 allows this side to be completely cleared in the open position of the door 4, thus eliminating any prominent obstacle likely to retain materials discharged from this aperture 3.

[0038] Advantageously, the rings or eyelets 11, on the one hand, and the rod or bar 13, on the other hand, are mounted on the two reinforcing elements 10 extending along the unfolded edges of the casing 5, in the region of the opposing ends thereof.

[0039] To avoid friction which could result in blocking of the door 4 during displacement, while guaranteeing very strong connection of the door 4 to the tank 2 in its closure position, the rod or bar 13 slides in a single guide ring 14, said rod or bar 13 comprising a projecting portion 13′ extending its front end and intended to engage in an additional anchoring ring or eyelet 15 integral with the tank 2 in the sealing position of the sliding door 4.

[0040] According to an advantageous variation of the invention, the guide rod or bar 12, the guide ring or eyelet 14 and the anchoring ring or eyelet 15 are fixed to an arched support plate 16 intimately attached to the external face of the wall of the tank 2 in the region of the zone surrounding the loading and unloading aperture 3, said support plate 16 itself comprising a cut-out 16′ substantially coinciding with said aperture 3.

[0041] A conFigureuration of this type allows the door device 1 to be produced in the form of a preassembled subassembly, ensures good structural rigidity and facilitates its connection to the tank 2.

[0042] Each ring or eyelet 11, 14 and 15 may consist of a sleeve made of a material with a low coefficient of friction mounted in a corresponding orifice.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings the support plate 16 can be provided with reinforcing and fixing elements 17, 17′ connecting said plate 16 to the tank wall 2, if appropriate in the form of flat bars or elongate rigid metal strips mounted edgewise, optionally having a camber substantially fitting that of the tank wall 2 and extending in the respective spaced planes perpendicular to the generating line of the casing of said wall.

[0044] The present invention also relates to a pneumatic membrane press, the tank 2 of which is provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture, characterised in that for controlled sealing and freeing, it is provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture 3 and a door device 1 as described above.

[0045] Finally the invention also relates to a manufacturing method for a door, in particular a door for a door device 1 of the type described above.

[0046] This method is characterised in that it consists in providing a metal plate 5 intended to constitute the structural casing of said door 4, in forming two folded opposed lateral edges 5′ on this plate 5, in placing in the casing 5 shape obtained a filling body 6 in the form of a plate, preferably made of plastics material, the dimensions of which are adjusted in relation to those of said casing 5 and finally, in arching the casing 5/body 6 assembly so as to obtain a cambered form, substantially an arc of a circle, in a plane perpendicular to the planes containing the folded side edges 5′, the filling body 6 being held in the structural casing 5 after arching and being squeezed between said opposing folded edges 5′.

[0047] More precisely, this method may also consist in providing the structural casing 5 on its external face with hollow reinforcing pieces 9, for example in the form of U-shaped profiles, which are fixed by the free edges 9″ of their wings 9′ and extend parallel to one another and transversely over the entire width of the door 4 in a direction parallel to that of the generating line of said casing 5 and, if appropriate, providing it with two reinforcing elements 10 in the form of elongate and cambered flat bars, extending along the two opposing lateral edges of said casing 5 perpendicular to the folded side edges 5′ thereof.

[0048] To achieve a tight seal in the closed position the plate 6 forming the filling body is provided, prior to arching and preferably before positioning in the casing 5, with a loop-shaped groove 6′ in which has previously been mounted, preferably after arching the casing 5/body 6 assembly, a continuous inflatable seal 8 (see FIG. 4 which applies to two described embodiments).

[0049] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the conFigureuration of the various elements or by the substitution of technical equivalents without thus departing from the scope of protection of the invention. 

1. Door device, in particular for a tank, maceration tank, press, and in particular for a pneumatic membrane press, provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture, the door having a generally arched form substantially fitting the curve of the wall of the tank, characterised in that said door (4) substantially consists of a structural casing (5) in the form of a metal plate provided with folded lateral edges (5′) and of a filling body (6), also in the form of a plate, mounted in the casing (5), said body (6) being held in said casing (5) by the folded edges (5′) thereof, due to the arching effect experienced by the casing (5)/body (6) assembly and the resultant arched overlapping arrangement.
 2. Door device according to claim 1, characterised in that said door (4) is displaceable in a controlled manner between a position of total sealing and a position of total freeing of the loading and unloading aperture (3) by means of an electric actuator controlled by the operator and/or by the control unit of the press.
 3. Door device according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the plate (6) forming the filling body consists of a solid plate made from a polymeric and/or plastics material which is rigid but deformable and comprises an inflatable joint (8) in the form of a loop or ring, mounted in a receiving groove (6′) provided in said plate (6) and intended to be tightly applied around the loading and unloading aperture (3), in the inflated state and in the sealing position of said door (4).
 4. Door device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the structural casing (5) is produced from sheet metal, has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and, on its external face remote from the filling body, is provided with elongate hollow reinforcing pieces (9) which are formed in or attached to this face of said casing (5).
 5. Door device according to claim 4, characterised in that the hollow reinforcing pieces (9) consist of U-shaped profiles attached to the external face of the casing (5) and fixed thereto in a continuous manner in the region of the straight free edges (9″) of their wings (9′) or in a discontinuous manner in the region of prominent segments of the notched free edges (9″) of their wings (9′), said profiles (9) extending parallel to one another and transversely over the whole width of the door (4) in a direction parallel to that of the generating line of said casing (5).
 6. Door device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the door (4) is also provided with at least two reinforcing elements (10), for example in the form of flat bars or elongate rigid metal strips, possibly having a camber substantially corresponding to that of the door (4), extending in respective spaced planes perpendicular to the generating line of the structural casing (5) of said door (4) and preferably being attached along the two opposing edges perpendicular to the folded side edges (5′) of said casing (5).
 7. Door device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the door (4) consists of a sliding door and in that the electric actuator (7) consists of an electric jack, the front edge of whose movable shank (7′) is integral with the structural casing (5).
 8. Door according to claim 6, characterised in that the door (4) comprises, close to one of its folded side edges (5′), at least two rings or eyelets (11) which slide on a guide rod or bar (12) integral with the tank (2) and, in the region of its opposing folded side edge (5′), a rod or bar (13) which slides in at least one ring or at least one guide eyelet (14) integral with the tank (2).
 9. Door device according to claim 8, characterised in that the rings or eyelets (11), on the one hand, and the rod or bar (13), on the other hand, are mounted on two reinforcing elements (10) extending along the non-folded edges of the casing (5) in the region of ends remote therefrom.
 10. Door device according to either of claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the rod or bar (13) slides in a single guide ring (14), said rod or bar (13) comprising a projecting portion (13′) extending its front end and intended to engage in an additional anchoring ring or eyelet (15) integral with the tank (2), when the sliding door (4) is in the sealing position.
 11. Door device according to claim 10, characterised in that the guide rod or bar (12), the guide ring or eyelet (14) and the anchoring ring or eyelet (15) are fixed on an arched support plate (16) intimately attached on the external face of the wall of the tank (2) in the region of the zone surrounding the loading and unloading aperture (3), said support plate (16) itself comprising a cut-out (16′) substantially coinciding with said aperture (3).
 12. Door device according to claim 11, characterised in that the support plate (16) is provided with reinforcing and fixing elements (17, 17′) connecting said plate (16) to the tank wall (2), if appropriate in the form of flat bars or elongate rigid metal strips, optionally having a camber substantially fitting that of the tank wall (2) and extending in the respective spaced planes perpendicular to the generating line of the casing of said wall.
 13. Press, in particular a pneumatic membrane press, the tank of which is provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture, characterised in that for controlled sealing and freeing, it is provided with at least one loading and unloading aperture (3) and a door device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to
 12. 14. Method for manufacturing a door, in particular a door for a door device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that it consists in providing a metal plate (5) intended to constitute the structural casing of said door (4), in forming two folded opposed lateral edges (5′) on this plate (5), in placing in the casing (5) shape obtained, a filling body (6) in the form of a plate, preferably made of plastics material, the dimensions of which are adjusted in relation to those of said casing (5) and finally, in arching the casing (5)/body (6) assembly so as to obtain a cambered form, substantially in the arc of a circle, in a plane perpendicular to the planes containing the folded side edges (5′), the filling body (6) being held in the structural casing (5) after arching and being squeezed between said opposing folded edges (5′).
 15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that it consists in providing the structural casing (5) with hollow reinforcing pieces (9) on its external face, for example in the form of U-shaped profiles, which are fixed by the free edges (9″) of their wings (9′) and extend parallel to one another and transversely over the entire width of the door (4) in a direction parallel to that of the generating line of said casing (5) and, if appropriate, providing it with two reinforcing elements (10) in the form of elongate and cambered flat bars, extending along the two opposing lateral edges of said casing (5) perpendicular to the folded side edges (5′) thereof.
 16. Method according to either of claims 14 or 15, characterised in that the plate (6) forming the filling body is provided, prior to arching thereof, with a loop-shaped groove (6′) in which is mounted a continuous inflatable seal (8). 